Ball Shows the Fun Side of Recycling with Students in LA During the Recycling Combine

In honor of National Recycling Week in the U.S., Ball partnered with the Los Angeles Rams, Hollywood Park and Inglewood Unified School District to bring more than 300 students to SoFi Stadium for this year’s Recycling Combine, an annual event that educates students about the positive impact recycling has on our planet.

On Nov. 12, more than 300 fourth graders from five schools in the Inglewood area discovered the power of recycling in an inspiring setting — the field of SoFi Stadium!

The day kicked off with an exclusive tour of the stadium, where students learned about the recycling process of a Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) and experienced how a big sports venue can positively influence the environment through innovative recycling efforts.

Recycling Challenges: Learning by Doing

After the tour, the students stopped by the Ball aluminum station to learn about recycling and the strength of aluminum. They learned about how much weight it takes to crush an aluminum can through a hands-on activity by balancing weights on a can until it was crushed. Then they guessed the weight before seeing first-hand how strong aluminum is!

Finally, students hit the field for ‘combine’ football activities. The Los Angeles Rams inspired young visitors through hosting a PLAY 60 football clinic, empowering kids with essential skills and tactics to elevate their performance on the field. Here the students were able to engage in drills on the Rams’ field.

The Rams’ mascot Rampage joined the event, entertaining the young crowd and demonstrating how to properly identify recycling bins.

The Recycling Combine was all about making recycling fun and easy for the kids. In addition to focusing on recycling, we surprised and delighted students throughout the day with the tour of SoFi Stadium, activities on the field, take-home gifts and participation of a Rams player. 

The students’ day was made even more special when they were greeted by Rams running back Kyren Williams. He shared how vital it is for athletes and fans alike to care for the environment, showing that recycling goes beyond home or school — it's a commitment we can all embrace in all aspects of life, even in the world of sports.

Why Teaching Recycling Matters

As the Official Sustainability Partner of the Los Angeles Rams and SoFi Stadium, the Recycling Combine enhances Ball’s ongoing efforts to promote recycling in the stadium and the Greater Los Angeles community.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Recycling Combine continued its mission of inspiring the next generation of sustainability leaders to take action for the environment in their community.  At Ball, we understand that educating our community — especially young people — about the importance of recycling in an engaging way is vital. When we teach and empower students today, we lay the foundation for lifelong sustainable habits and choices which will benefit our communities and our planet.